Top 5 climate change questions kids ask

More and more young people are concerned about what’s happening to our planet and the life on it and we get lots of questions from our Curiositeers about Climate Change – so we thought we’d cover one or two of our most common queries, and offer up some ideas on how you can help!

1. Are climate change and global warming the same thing?

They’re not, but they are connected which is why it can get a little confusing. Global warming is how we describe the gradual increase in the temperature of the Earth.  Climate Change is the name for the large-scale, long-term change in the planet’s weather patterns.

2. How has climate change become such a big problem so quickly?

In its 4.5 billion year lifetime, our planet’s overall climate has shifted from tropical to the ice age and back again many times. The problem scientists have discovered is that the current rate of global warming is much faster than ever before.

The biggest reason for this is the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) that’s being released into the atmosphere. CO2 traps the heat, which means the planet can’t cool itself as well as it used to.

The weather patterns are now changing more quickly than ever in Earth’s history, and the effects could be devastating. For plants, animals, and us. Want to know more? Check out the Met Office Climate Change guide for more info.

3. What effects are you talking about?

It’s not easy to spot immediately but take, for example, uncharacteristically warm and sunny days during winter. Those blue skies and pretty flowers are beguiling but it can lead to animals coming out of hibernation up far too soon, while the days are still short which means there may not be enough plant growth to provide sufficient food.

The increase in temperature has also caused trees to become dehydrated which can lead to forest fires, which in turn leads to birds and insects losing their homes. And that’s just the tip of the (rapidly melting) iceberg! Take a look at NASA’s Climate Change time machine to see how things were and what might happen in the future.

4. Yikes! This is scary stuff! Can we do anything?

It is scary. But the great thing is that more and more people are becoming aware of what a big problem it is and how it affects us all. And yes there are things we can do to slow the effect down while we find ways to deal with Climate Change as a whole…

Get digging!

Plants are nature’s CO2 scrubbing brushes, so the more we can plant, the more scrubbing power we’ll have. You don’t need a garden either. Window boxes and hanging baskets can all make a difference.

Get on your bike!

The less we use our cars the less CO2 gets pumped into the atmosphere. You can’t always avoid jumping in the car, but if you can hop on your bike or walk those smaller journeys, the planet will thank you!

5. Stay curious!

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the climate crisis, but the best thing you can do is to keep learning. Being informed, sharing ideas and making small changes make a huge difference. Start by heading over and discover 5 easy ways families can protect the planet or if you have any ideas, share them with us so we can spread the word!

Amazing Earth Box

Our planet is amazing and there’s so much we can do to learn how to look after it. Children are keen to save the planet and this box is a great way to explore the science behind the complex global challenge of climate change. The Amazing Earth Box includes:

🟩 The Greenhouse Effect Jumbo/Tots/Nano: What is it and how does it work?

💨 Amazing Anemometer Jumbo & Nano: Explore the power of wind, and even measure it!

🎡 Windy Wheels Tots/Tots Nano: How can we use wind as a source of sustainable energy?

🌊 Acidic Oceans Jumbo/Tots: Looks at how CO2 is impacting our oceans.

⚛️ PLUS a collectable Molymod mini kit! *Jumbo only*

📦 Biodegradable packaging Jumbo/Tots: Test the degradability of some common materials.

⚛️ PLUS a collectable CO2 Molymod! *Jumbo only*